Side Scan Sonar
L-3 Klein Associates has forty years of experience with the development and manufacture of high performance side scan sonar systems. Our side scan sonar systems are respected as the standard of excellence in the industry and are deployed by Governments, Navies, Port Authorities, surveyors, oil companies and universities worldwide.
L-3 Klein’s sonar systems have been used to locate the HMS titanic, wreckage of the US Space Shuttle, downed aircraft including TWA Flt. 800, Swiss Air Flt. 111, John F. Kennedy Jr.’s plane and Egypt Air 990, a myriad of underwater antiquities as well as performing the day to day work of Hydrographic Surveys, L-3 Klein employs an experienced staff of technical personnel, familiar with the ocean environment and committed to providing outstanding products and service.
L-3 Klein is the pioneer in Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) Multi-Beam Side Scan Sonar technology. Unlike single beam side scan sonar systems whose along-track resolution degrades with increasing range, the Klein dynamically focused multi-beam side scan sonar systems deliver constant along-track resolution, with 100% bottom coverage, at tow speeds that are two to three times higher than possible with single beam systems. The superior high resolution, high speed performance of the Klein multi-beam systems has made the product line extremely successful with many of the worlds Navies and Government organizations where it has become the system of choice used for Q-route surveys and detection of mine like objects (MLO’s).
Product Offerings:
System 5900 Multi-Beam Side Scan Sonar
Klein 5900 Multi-Beam Side Scan Sonar
The high resolution multi-beam side scan sonar (MBSS) on the Klein System 5900 improves on the performance of its predecessor System 5000, by employing advanced signal processing techniques and superior acoustic design to improve the overall along track target resolution by more than 25%. The System 5900 uses twice the number of acoustic channels available on the System 5000 series sonar along with an increase in frequency and acoustic aperture length to produce a much higher resolution along-track image. The along track resolution of the System 5900 is 5cm out to 25cm, 10cm from 25m-50m, 15cm from 50m-75m, 20cm from 75m-100m, and increases at 0.1 degrees out to a maximum range of 125m. The across track resolution of the System 5900 is constant overall operating ranges at 3.75cm.
The System 5900 MBSS also uses dynamic beam steering image stabilization techniques to remove artifacts caused by tow vehicle motion which would otherwise blur seabed images; especially at longer range where the affects due to angular perturbations are more pronounced. This is a marked improvement over the System 5000 family which produced successive beams perpendicular to the tow body and were more susceptible to compressed or elongated images due to excessive tow fish yaw. Image stabilization helps to effectively extend the range of the sonar by minimizing this distortion.
Integrated into the System 5900 sonar architecture is a Swath Bathymetric Sonar (SBS). This sonar uses advanced interferometric signal processing to produce simultaneous estimates of the seabed topography out to the full swath extent of the sonar, typically 10-12 times the overall altitude of the tow fish. The data is co-registered with the resulting side scan backscatter imagery and can be used to more accurately position seabed targets. Side looking sonars that do not have the ability to perform bathymetric measurements must assume a locally flat bottom when measuring the location of seabed targets. This can result in target position errors on the order of meters when surveying over sloped bottoms. This added seabed topographic measurement capability is extremely advantageous when performing missions involving shallow water, rapid assessment.
The System 5900 Sonar System comes with an optional Gap-Filler Sonar (GFS) used to provide high-resolution acoustic imagery in the vicinity of the side scan sonar “nadir gap”. All side scan sonar systems are incapable of adequately imaging the region directly beneath the sonar tow body. This resulting “nadir gap” region, which can be relatively large, depending on the tow body altitude, can only be covered by executing a sonar survey which encompasses 100% overlap on reciprocal adjacent survey lines. This requirement can greatly increase the survey time necessary to achieve full bottom coverage.
System 5000 V2 Multi-Beam Side Scan Sonar
L-3 Klein has continually made incremental improvements to the System 5000 over the years. Now we have completed a major upgrade and technology refresh to the 5000 and are proud to introduce the new L-3 Klein 5000 V2. L-3 Klein has added a new Reconnaissance Mode which extends long range coverage to 250 meters per side while maintaining along track resolution at 10 cm to 38m, 20 cm to 75m increasing to 36 cm to 150m and 50 cm to 250m. We have added Frequency Modulated Chirp, which yields consistent cross track resolution at all range settings and speeds. Through state-of-the-art engineering, L-3 Klein has further reduced noise to offer our customers far superior imaging performance.
The System 5000 V2 can be configured with an optional Swath Bathymetric Sonar (SBS). The sonar uses advanced interferometric signal processing to produce simultaneous estimates of the seabed topography out to the full swath extent of the sonar, typically 10-12 times the overall altitude of the tow fish. This data is coregistered with the resulting side scan backscatter imagery and can be used to more accurately position seabed targets.
HYDROCHART 5000 Hydrographic Survey System
HydroChart 5000 Hydrographic Survey System
The Klein HYDROCHART 5000 System is a hydrographic survey system which has the ability to simultaneously collect IHO quality swath bathymetry and high resolution multi-beam side scan sonar data in a co-registered and geo-referenced data set. The HYDROCHART 5000 is the only product in its class to provde frequency modulated (FM) chirp processing for both bathymetry and side scan providing high resolution with extended range performance.
The wide swath bathymetry performance provides a 2X survey coverage advantage over traditional multi-beam echo sounders in shallow water (40m or less) and the multi beam side scan has the capability of producing 10cm resolution side scan in the High Resolution Mode.
The dual functionality of the Klein HYDROCHART 5000 effectively allow two surveys to be accomplished in one pass saving significant ship time and expense.
System AUV 5000 V2 Multi-Beam Side Scan Sonar
The System AUV 5000 V2 is designed specifically as a dual purpose side scan sonar with an optional Bathymetry payload for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. The L-3 Klein System AUV 5000 V2 simultaneously generates eight adjacent parallel sonar beams on each side of the AUV while employing advanced beam steering and dynamic focusing for unmatched Along Track resolution that is not possible using single beam or multi-pulse side scan technologies.
With the addition of the Swath Bathymetry Sonar, the AUV 5000 V2 employs advanced interferometric signal processing to produce simultaneous estimates of the seabed topography out to the full swath extent of the sonar, typically 10-12 times the overall altitude of the AUV. The added seabed topographic measurement is post processed and co-registered with the side scan backscatter imagery to more accurately position seabed targets. Sonar beam forming is done by the AUV 5000 V2 electronics thus allowing for integration with onboard CAD/CAC software.
System 5000 Multi-Beam Side Scan Sonar
System 5000 Multi-Beam Side Scan Sonar
The System 5000 is a 5-beam side scan sonar designed for hydrographic, military and commercial applications requiring high-resolution images of the sea floor and bottom obstructions, while operating at tow speeds up to 10 knots and with an overall swath of 300 meters. Conventional side scan sonar systems use a single sonar beam per side to generate an image of the seafloor. The physics of this type of sonar results in degradation of image resolution with range poor along track resolution, and requires speeds of 5 knots or less to insure 100 percent bottom coverage.
System 4000 Multi-Beam Side Scan Sonar
System 4000 Multi-Beam Side Scan Sonar
The System 4000 Multi-Beam Side Scan Sonar is a high performance, 5 beam dynamically focused, economical system designed specifically to address the requirement of Port & Harbor Security applications. This system is also ideally suited for small object detection in open boat applications. Performance of the Klein System 4000 is close to the specifications and performance of the Klein System 5000 technology but at a much lower cost. The system is designed with a single hull configuration which reduces the length and weight of the towfish enabling use on smaller boats with various configurations.
The System 4000 is focused on Port and Harbor security. As you are aware, Cities, States and Governments are concerned about the security of their ports and harbors. Movement of goods by sea is key and critical to every country’s economy. All governments have realized that their ports and harbors must always remain open to receiving and shipping goods around the world if they want to maintain a viable economy. Any underwater danger whether real or perceived can close a harbor. The Klein System 4000 will assure port and harbor integrity when utilized.
System 3000 Digital Side Scan Sonar
Klein System 3000 Digital Side Scan Sonar
The L-3 Klein System 3000 presents the latest technology in digital side scan sonar imaging. The simultaneous dual frequency operation is based on new advanced transducer designs, as well as the high resolution circuitry developed for the Klein multi-beam focused sonar. The System 3000 is our best all around system and is the system of choice for users requiring multiple applications or deep water. The System 3000 has been in production since May 2002 and provides impressive image resolution, higher sonar coverage ranges than available in the industry for equal frequency sonars and an intiutive software package with many advanced features. The System 3000 is small, lightweight and easy to run and maintain. Customers include commerical and hydrographic surveyors, search & recovery specialists, military projects and institutional research groups.
System 3000H Digital Side Scan Sonar
Klein System 3000H Digital Side Scan Sonar
The System 3000H presents the latest technology in digital side scan sonar imaging. The dual-frequency operation is based on new transducer designs, as well as the high resolution circuitry recently developed for the Klein multi-beam focused sonar. The System 3000H performance and price is directed to the commercial, institutional and governmental markets, and features 445 and 900 kHz frequencies for a variety of applications, including those requiring high resolution operations.
System 3900 Digital Side Scan Sonar
Klein System 3900 Dual-Frequency Side Scan Sonar
L-3 Klein has recently completed the design and development of the System 3900 Side Scan Sonar. The system is an extremely high resolution digital sonar for use in Search & Recovery missions which require a portable side scan sonar system. The model has a dual frequency capability with 445 kHz offering excellent range and resolution and 900 kHz which offers higher resolution of identified targets.
The System 3900 is competively priced and configured to operate by one man from a small boat in shallow water. The standard system configuration comes complete with a splash proof Transceiver Processing Unit (TPU), custom configured laptop and 50m of lightweight tow cable. The System 3900 towfish electronics are housed in a stainless steel body with a phosphorescent finish for easy underwater identification.
K-Chirp Model 3310 Sub Bottom Profiler
K-Chirp Model 3310 Sub Bottom Profiler
L-3 Klein completed the design and development of a state-of-the-art CHIRP Sub Bottom Profiler (SBP) attachment for the System 3000 Side Scan Sonar. The new SBP has a two transmit transducers andlinear hydrophone Mills Cross configuration for optimium “sea bottom footprint”, as well as a CHIRP transmit pulse. This sub bottom produces excellent data.